First Officer Job Description
A first officer is fundamentally the second pilot or the copilot of an aircraft. Their duties and control over the aircraft resemble that of the captain, but differ in that they guide and assist the captain during a normal flight, and coordinate directly with the control towers. They steadily coordinate between air traffic controllers and the captain, inspecting the aircraft to make sure there aren’t any faulty parts. In case of the captain’s incapacitation, they take full control over flying the aircraft. First officer jobs also involve managing the aircraft operations during an emergency situation. You can get more information regarding the latest first officer openings on Aviation Job Search.
First Officer Job Responsibilities
First officer pilot jobs are quite challenging, demanding a combination of both educational competence, and technical knowledge. They coordinate with the Captain of the aircraft in managing the aircraft operations and communicate with the air traffic controller to take the directions. The first officer drafts the flight plan along with the Captain prior to the takeoff and also takes control of flying whenever required. First officers are certified pilots who inform the captain of any anomalies in flight operations. So, before applying for first officer vacancies, individuals should keep in mind that they meet all the criteria. If you want to avail such opportunities,visit the Aviation Job Search.
Skills Required For Building First Officer Career
As much as a good educational background and training is required to get into a copilot career, these alone just aren’t enough. Operation monitoring, technical dexterity, active listening, critical thinking and complex problem-solving are the key skills required for a first officer’s career. One needs to multitask as a copilot. Coordinating with air traffic controllers, guiding the captain, inspecting any potential dangers, and being on the guard for any unexpected situation are some of the tasks that a first officer undertakes all at once. Patience and great attention to detail is also required in order to fly the aircraft safely and efficiently.
Training to Become a First Officer Pilot
The first step is finding a suitable flying or pilot training school. They usually offer integrated and modular professional flight training. The integrated courses allow trainee pilots without previous flying experience to obtain their ATPL in 18 months. The classes are rigorous, and you must complete the training in one go. The integrated courses combine both theory and flying experience. Modular training, as its name implies, is done in segments. This allows trainees to work alongside their studies and pay the course fees. To qualify for a modular training program, you must have a Private Pilot Licence and 150 hours of flying experience. This option is cheaper than the integrated one but takes more time to complete.
Getting A First Officer Pilot’s Degree
Although aviation degrees are not essential, many universities offer relevant courses. Bucks New University offers a BSc. in Air Transport and Commercial Pilot Training, and Kingston University, London, has a BSc in Aviation Operations and Commercial Pilot Training. These courses can both be completed in three years. However, the Kingston course can take a sandwich year, making it a 4-year program.
Essential Things to Know About First Officer Job
Although getting a first officer job is the best thing to happen to aspiring pilots, the road isn’t easy. First, it is expensive to become a pilot; the training is costly and rigorous. Secondly, you need to be ready to stay away from home frequently. It might be easy for a single person, but those with families report domestic issues. Thirdly and most importantly, the Level of responsibility is very high; being a first officer pilot has its perks, no doubt, and excellent wages, but with great salary comes great responsibility. You and your captain are responsible for the lives of all the people on the plane. So you need nerves of steel since the slightest mistake at a critical point can be fatal for you and everyone onboard.
